Tips for growing carmona bonsai

Carmona is a very beautiful ornamental plant and is ideal for growing bonsai. The tree is quite unpretentious and well suited for people who have no experience in growing single compositions.

Bonsai is a popular Japanese technology that involves making miniature copies of different trees using houseplants. Formed in this way, they bring an Asian flavor to the room and transform the interior. Moreover, bonsai creates a state of peace of mind for those present and a special psychological microclimate. The presence of such a plant in the room promotes relaxation and provides optimal conditions for contemplation and meditation.

The bonsai technique is very popular all over the world and is ideal for creating a natural corner in urban apartments. Many plant species are used as the subject of the composition, but carmona is considered the most suitable of them. This is primarily due to the morphological characteristics of the plant, namely: a powerful trunk and fast-growing decorative foliage. Besides the tree quickly acquires the desired shape and forgives mistakes in care for novice growers.

Carmona, or tea tree, is an evergreen shrub belonging to the borage family. The plant got its official name in honor of the German scientist Georg Eret, who discovered and described it. The native land of the species is the southeast of Asia, where in its natural environment the tree reaches a height of several meters. In indoor conditions, the plant barely grows up to 50 cm.

Carmona has a thick, barked trunk that cracks in mature plants and makes them look like large trees. Glossy leaves on small petioles are oval in shape and reach 2 cm in length. On the upper part of the leaf blades, there are thin villi, and due to their shape and dark green color, reminiscent of boxwood, the plant received a second name - boxwood eretia.

The tree blooms twice a year: in June and December, however, if especially favorable conditions are created, it can continue all year round. Blooming karmona is covered with small white flowers that exude a pleasant aroma. The fruits are round yellow or red inedible berries that remain on the branches for a long time.

More than 60 species of karmon grow in the natural environment, but only two are used for indoor cultivation.

• The first of them is small-leaved carmona (lat.Ehretia Buxifolia) differs in somewhat slower growth, too dark leaves and shade tolerance.
• The second type is large-leaved carmona (lat.Carmona Macrophylla), quickly grows green mass and lends itself well to crown formation. For the bonsai technique, both types are used, however, for beginner growers, the second is the most preferable. This is due to its accelerated growth, in which a person will see the result of his work faster.

Caring for carmona at home includes choosing the soil, watering, feeding and transplanting the plant, as well as observing the conditions of light, humidity and temperature.

When growing karmona, it is better to use a special bonsai soil that includes Japanese clay, organic compost, pumice and volcanic lava. If you can't buy such a mixture, then you can use homemade substrate. Prepare it from burnt clay chips, peat or compost, coarse river sand and fine gravel, taken in equal parts. The resulting mixture should be loose and neutral acidic, with a limited organic content.

Carmona does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature. The optimal temperature regime for the plant will be +20.24 degrees Celsius, which is recommended to be maintained all year round. In summer, the tree can be placed on the balcony, placing it away from drafts and direct rays, from which it experiences stress and sheds foliage. The tree needs in daily irrigation with warm water and constant cleaning of leaves from dust.

Carmona needs sufficient lighting and from a lack of light can begin to fade. Daylight hours should be at least 12 hours, so it is recommended to use a fluorescent lamp during winter. In summer, the plant must be provided diffused lighting, avoiding prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

Carmona needs regular watering and does not tolerate prolonged drought. The plant should be moistened immediately after the top centimeter layer of the substrate has dried. In this case, you need to equip good drainage and ensure the unhindered outflow of excess fluid. In the summer months, the pot can be immersed in a bowl of water.

However, during such watering, measures should be taken to ensure that the upper part of the substrate does not float away. To do this, use a fine mesh, which is wrapped around the pot. After 1-2 minutes, the pot is placed on a tray, and after another 20, excess liquid is drained from it.

Bonsai from karmona are fed with solid mineral fertilizers, which is associated with the high sensitivity of the roots. The additions are made from March to October with a frequency of once every 2 weeks during the growing season, and once every 6 weeks during the non-growing season. Moreover, in early spring, the emphasis is on phosphorus-containing preparations, and closer to autumn they switch to potash fertilizers. The use of nitrogen-containing complexes in spring is not recommended. An excess of nitrogen leads to a rapid growth of the crown and hinders its formation.

Bonsai is transplanted in the spring every 2-3 years, while removing no more than 20% of the root processes. It is not recommended to transplant more often, due to long-term root recovery. You cannot fertilize the plant for a month after the event.

Carmona easily takes the desired shape. To do this, it is enough to shorten the central stem in time and monitor the deviation of the lateral branches. The more often you trim, the thicker and more interesting the trunk will look. For one pruning, no more than 2-3 leaves are removed, pinching the growth points in accordance with the desired shapes.

The main formation of the crown is performed in spring and summer, during the period of active growth of the green mass. Spot shape adjustments can be performed all year round: the plant does not fall into a dormant state and tolerates winter and autumn pruning well. The main thing is not to forget to treat the sections with an antiseptic, such as chopped charcoal or garden var, and also try not to use wire that injures the trunk and branches.

Novice growers often complain that bonsai leaves are beginning to fall off. The main reasons for this reaction are:

• excessive moisture or, on the contrary, lack of watering;
• too dry air in the room;
• the presence of drafts and daily temperature changes;
• attack of pests, which are often spider mites and whiteflies.

See below for helpful tips on grooming and shaping your bonsai.